Peak Summary

Trinity peak, the highest and most difficult of the three Trinity summits, is a Class 4 connect from Trinity West and provides an entertaining rock route scramble and unsurpassed views of some of Colorado's most challenging summits. For most all, the Trinity summits will require a multi-day backpack trip up Elk Creek and likely Vestal Creek to a high base camp.

Other Peaks Accessed via This Trailhead

Map/Location

Trailhead GPS Coordinates ›N 37° 44' 52.44", W 107° 41' 19.63"

Map shows the Molas Pass trailhead near Molas Lake, south of Silverton and the section of the Colorado Trail that hikers can connect to that drops down to cross the Animas River at Elk Park and then heads east up Elk Creek to the "beaver ponds" camp area.

From the highway intersection just west of Silverton, CO, drive south on US550 in the direction of Molas Pass for 5.3 miles. About .6 mile, or at 5.3 miles total, after the turnoff for the Molas Lake there is a turnoff to the left into the trailhead parking area, accessible to 2WD vehicles. The dirt parking lot may be muddy at times and have a few potholes to avoid. There is usually plenty of room to park here, but can get a little full on weekends.

If coming from Durango, drive north on US550 over Coal Bank Pass and Molas Pass. After cresting Molas Pass, the turnoff for the trailhead will be 1.1 mile further north and on the right. The drive from Durango will take about an hour.

Camping

You can probably vehicle camp at the trailhead but there is no immediate toilet facility. You could also hike south along the trail a short distance from the TH and pitch a tent. There is a vault toilet back at the top of Molas Pass or at the turnoff for Molas Lake, you can drive down to the park and pay a fee to camp where there are not only vault toilets, but also hot showers for $5.00. There is also a fee campground at "Little Molas Lake," which is on a graded dirt road that turns off to the west, from the highway back towards Molas Pass. So overall, there are plenty of camping opportunities in the immediate vicinity.

Our route up Trinity Peak
uses a backpack approach and climb of West Trinity, which we've broken into multiple stages, to reach the summit.
Please refer to
the approach stages and route within this sequence by using the provided toggles for info on how to approach this climb.

Other Peaks Accessed via this Approach

USGS Quads

From the Molas Trailhead parking, head south on a connector trail that joins the Colorado Trail about a half mile south of Molas Lake. Follow the Colorado Trail #665 east through mostly open, flowering meadows with enticing views of the Grenadier Range and Snowdon Peaks to the south. The trail maintains elevation as Molas Creek begins to drop away, enters a section of forest and then breaks out of the forest to begin a long descent to the Animas River. Each time we have hiked this section of trail, we have attempted to count the number of switchbacks and each time we have come up with a different number. Suffice it to say there are a minimum of 30. On your way down, enjoy spectacular views of Mount Garfield, Graystone and Electric peaks. From the trailhead to the crossing of the Animas, it's approximately 3 miles.

Eventually the trail deposits you at an easy crossing of Molas Creek (where you can cool your feet from the arduous descent) and then shortly after comes to a well built footbridge across the Animas. Total elevation loss is around 1,700 feet. Once across the Animas, follow along the tracks south and watch for the Elk Creek trail just a short distance away heading up the slope on your left above the tracks. The trail switchbacks up and then begins a contouring path above the tracks over to a low ridge and then Elk Creek. Just before it swings into the Elk drainage, there's a trail that drops back down on the right to some campsites. Once in the Elk Creek drainage, the trail stays on the north side of the creek all the way to the well-known beaver ponds. It's a 3.5 mile hike to there. The trail is well-used and easy to follow and receives regular maintenance. We recall maybe one or two other places where the trail gets close to the creek that would offer a campsite. There are perhaps a couple of spots where the trail crosses a sloping embankment and degrades some. A little over a mile before the beaver ponds, the trail begins to climb above the creek, goes up a side drainage briefly and then gains a flatter bench high above the creek. Once you each that bench, you're less than a half mile from the ponds and the elevation gain is over.

Continue on to the beaver ponds which will be on the right (south side of the trail). There are camp spots right along the trail here, but there are better spots if you cross the ponds on a trail that passes right along the eastern edge of the main pond at the foot of a boulder field. The trail wanders through a few willows, then breaks out into a clearing with several flat campsites on the edge of the trees. This same trail is what you will follow to get to the Elk Creek crossing and then begin a hike up to Vestal Creek and Vestal Basin. On our last visit here in 2011, we saw a cow moose and her calf.

Campsite Locations

From the Beaver Ponds located just below 10,000 feet on the Elk Creek Trail, skirt around the ponds on the east end following a trail that goes right along the edge of the main pond and a boulder field. On the south end, the trail will meander some in willows and then leave the pond to a flat area with good camping. Continue on the trail south towards a steep embankment drop to Elk Creek. Cross the creek on some fallen logs. (In 2011, there were fallen logs across the creek here that made crossing fairly easy, but this could quickly change.) Once on the south side of Elk Creek, follow the trail on a bench westward for a short time before it begins the steep pull up the Vestal drainage. The Vestal Creek trail is not a regularly maintained trail, though we have seen a trail crew on it before, which may explain why the number of fallen trees across the trail seemed less in 2011. Since it is more of a "use" trail, you may find several variations at times. In our opinion, this is one trail that the Forest Service should develop and maintain in order to reduce resource damage.

As the trail heads generally south up the steep mountainside, you may find multiple branches at times. After about a mile, you'll come to the edge of a second avalanche chute. The main trail will follow more directly uphill along the side of a minor ridge on the east side of the chute. There may be another trail near the bottom of the chute that leads over in the direction of Vestal Creek. Avoid that one. If you're diverted by it, you may find you have to bushwhack up the chute to find the main trail again. Past the avalanche chute, the trail still maintains some distance from the creek. When the creek begins to swing SE, the trail will drop to very near the creek in an open meadow area. There's a large, rotting log on the left side of the trail that makes a good rest stop. From this meadow, looking SSW, you'll be viewing directly up the valley between Electric and Arrow. This is the shortest access to Electric, Garfield and Graystone and the easiest place to cross Vestal Creek is right where the trail comes closest.

For those wanting to continue further up valley to the higher camps, continue on the trail back into forest and reach the "lower meadow" at 11,300 feet. There are primitive camping opportunities here and at the east end of the lower meadow, you'll be directly across from the valley between Arrow and Vestal. It is possible to access that valley from the lower meadow camp, but it ain't easy. For those desiring an even higher camp, continue along the Vestal Creek trail another third of a mile to 11,760 ft. and what we consider to be the best campsite—which is in some of the last, open trees and bordering the creek. Across the creek, there's another flat, open meadow with willows. From this camp, access to the col SSW of West Trinity is an easy matter. Also, a contouring ascent west from this camp can lead you back to the valley between Vestal and Arrow. The ridge and saddle that connects those two summits on their south side also provides access to Graystone. Some groups like to include Graystone with Arrow and Vestal as we did, others will include Graystone with a day up Garfield and Electric.

Camping

There are primitive sites in the lower meadow at 11,300 feet, then another site area around 11,700 feet and a third site area at 11,760 ft. on the edge of a higher meadow. Above there, there are no trees but it may be possible to find more campsites in open tundra. There are abundant willows in some places. Another favorite campsite is above treeline, further up at Vestal Lake.

The following summary will apply to all the peaks accessible from Vestal Creek. These include: Peaks Two and Three, The Trinities, Vestal, Arrow, Electric, Graystone, Point Pun (unranked) and Garfield. In describing the routes for all these peaks, we have used the beaver ponds on the Elk Creek trail as the "base camp" starting point. Mileages and elevation gain are measured from there for each. However, for those with the strength and fortitude, you can continue the backpack portion of the trip by heading up the unmaintained and sometimes confusing Vestal Creek Trail. That hike will be included with each summit in this area as part of the "approach." Not only is the Vestal trail confusing at times with multiple tracks to follow, it is very steep and also harbors a large number of fallen logs to cross. The campsites in upper Vestal Creek are also known for their aggressive and camp-destroying marmots. Protect your food supply accordingly and even your gear as well. In 1992, we had marmots chew their way into our tent, then they both slept and defecated on our sleeping bags. In addition, they completely destroyed a pair of shorts we had left outside to air out, chewed on our packs and socks left out and they chewed through one of the tubes for our water filter. In short, they were attracted to anything that had salt on it.

This route description will begin from an assumed campsite at 11,760 ft. in the upper end of Vestal Creek. From that camp, cross Vestal Creek to the south if you have not already. A rough trail in 1992 (probably well-trodden by now) leads up towards the Vestal-Trinity saddle. The sketchy trail continued through both boulder fields and tundra to the climb up to the saddle where a large cairn marked the way up. The hike to the saddle is another steep ascent with plenty of loose rock but is not quite as bad as the Arrow-Vestal saddle, but in early July of 1992, we had to navigate a snowfield by kick-stepping our way up. Ice axe was useful. If you're camped at Vestal Lake, just contour over into the same basin and see if you can locate the trail. Upper campsite to saddle is about one hour.

Follow the SW ridge of West Trinity to the summit., about 1,000 feet above. Though steep, the hiking/scrambling is generally easy and straightforward. Most is Class 2+ with some occasional Class 3 steps. The route follows the ridge for the most part, but we did find ourselves moving onto the north side of the ridge a few more times than anticipated. Numerous cairns marked the way, some leading onto other possibilities. It's possible to stray of course and find yourself on some 4th class if you're not observing your route carefully. From the higher camp at 11,760 ft. to the summit was 2 hours for us. Distance from that camp is 1.25 mile. From the Elk Creek base camp, it's 3.75 miles.

Return by the same route, but almost all peakbaggers will want to continue on to the other two Trinity summits.

Route Description

Year Climbed: 1992

For further details about the backpack approach to upper Vestal Creek, from the Molas Trailhead, please go to Graystone Peak and read the approach information there. The route description for Trinity Peak (Middle Trinity) begins from the summit of West Trinity.

First of all, descend the east ridge of West Trinity to the saddle (Class 2+). From this saddle, Garratt & Martin's book suggested climbing Trinity by "ascending east, staying below the ridge crest on the south side," and contouring east until directly below the summit and then ascending directly to the summit. We attempted to follow a route that seemed to better fit Rosebrough's "San Juan Mountains" book. From the saddle, we began an ascent that kept us just below the cliffs that form the ridge on the south side, staying as high as we could. There was a fairly well-established route along here. From a little below and near the saddle, we could spot a large cairn on an exposed rib of rock protruding from the main ridge. From that cairn, we found other cairns that guided us along, generally on the south side of the ridge and below cliffs. A former climbing partner (Bob Alden) who had already done this route advised that we should look for a cairn, leaning up against a cliff wall with a "chimney" above and climb up that short chimney back to the ridge. We found this cairn and did as instructed. The so-called chimney did not allow for chimney technique, but we climbed it directly and for the short 20 or so feet, it felt rather exposed, but the rock was secure enough and we did not use a rope. If we had progressed further east from this leaning cairn, we would have encountered some radical exposure, so it was fairly obvious where to go up. This chimney is likely the one described by Roach as the "crux" of this route.

Once atop the chimney we continued to follow ledges and shelves upward to the east. In a few more minutes, there was another cairn we spotted on the top of the short cliff above us. This involved another briefly exposed, 4th class climb on good rock to reach the cairn and ridge crest. From that location, it was a much easier walk to the summit on good rock with secure footing. Once you arrive, breath a little easier knowing that you've now completed the most difficult part of this traverse.

From the Elk Creek camp to the summit of Trinity peak is 4.25 miles. The traverse from West to Middle Trinity measures as .4 mile, but we'll call it a half mile for rounding purposes. From a high Vestal Creek camp at 11,760 ft., it's about 1.75 mile. The traverse from west to middle took us about 1.5 hours. Gerry & Jennifer Roach have probably one of the best descriptions of this traverse in their book, "Colorado's Thirteeners."

Additional BETA

Links to other information, routes & trip reports for this peak that may be helpful.

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